The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an award given to Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi after an investigation confirmed safeguarding issues.
Pilavachi obtained the Archbishop's Lambeth Award in 2020 in recognition of his “excellent contribution to evangelism and discipleship amongst younger folks in the UK”.
The Soul Survivor motion was based by Pilavachi in 1993 and reaches 1000’s of younger folks yearly with its summer season music festivals.
In presenting the award 4 years in the past, Archbishop Justin Welby mentioned Pilavachi “has formed spirituality and discipleship for generations of younger folks by which worship, evangelism, provision for the poor, service within the energy of the Holy Spirit and love of Scripture are non-negotiable”.
“This award for evangelism acknowledges that Soul Survivor, particularly, has been a spot the place tens of 1000’s of younger folks have discovered religion. What's extra, Mike has carried out this ministry with exemplary humility, humor and self-sacrifice.”
In April final yr, quite a lot of males utilized Wire investigation alleging inappropriate conduct by Pilavachi, together with protracted matches, massages in underwear, behavioral management and religious abuse.
Pilavachi resigned from the ministry whereas a protecting investigation into the allegations was underway. He later resigned after the Church of England's Nationwide Safeguarding Staff concluded that the claims had been substantiated.
Earlier this yr, worship chief Matt Redman, who co-founded Soul Survivor with Pilavachi, spoke about his expertise below Pilavachi, saying he was “uncovered to important emotional, religious and bodily abuse in a scenario I didn't know tips on how to get out of”.
“I spent years attempting to heal from that point. I forgave Mike, however I nonetheless really feel the affect to this present day,” he mentioned.
Commenting on the withdrawal of Pilavachi's award, the Archbishop of Canterbury's workplace mentioned in a press release: “Following the conclusion of an inner church investigation into Mike Pilavachi, which recognized safeguarding issues towards him and powerful testimony from survivors, the choice was taken to withdraw Mike Pilavachi's Lambeth Award. The Archbishop of Canterbury knowledgeable him of determination.”
The announcement follows a petition launched in April on Change.org calling for his award to be revoked.
